They didn't dwell much on Marlon's matter.
Before long, both Roger's crew and Shiki's crew had drunk themselves into a pleasant haze.
Then, a drunken Shiki slung an arm around Roger's shoulders and said, "By the way, how much did you guys get out of God Valley? As for us… we struck it rich!"
Before Roger could reply, Shiki started bragging, "Over thirty billion Berries! Jihahahahaha! Bet you've never even seen that much treasure, Roger! I'm gonna use this money to build a massive pirate fleet and finish that bastard Rocks' unfinished dream—conquer the entire world! Jihahahahaha!"
Hearing that Shiki's group had looted over thirty billion Berries, Roger couldn't help feeling a bit jealous. "Who asked you, you bastard!?"
Their Roger Pirates had only gotten a bit over twenty billion!
But considering Shiki had the Float-Float Fruit, which made looting ridiculously convenient, there was nothing to argue about.
Seeing Roger look a little shaken, Shiki grew even more smug. "What? Looks like your haul wasn't that great. Need me to spare you some? If you beg, I might consider it."
"What did you say?" Roger slammed his cup onto the table and lifted his chin. "You backwater pirates really have no ambition. Just thirty billion Berries and you think it's a big deal…"
"Hah?" Shiki pursed his lips, clearly thinking Roger was putting on airs. "Only thirty billion? You've got a big mouth, don't you? Do you even know what that means? A standard Marine warship from Headquarters costs about 120 million Berries to build in Water 7 right now. With thirty billion, you could build at least five hundred pirate ships. You get that? And you call me a backwater pirate? What kind of 'backwater pirate' has that kind of money!?"
In this era, a Marine Headquarters warship cost just over a hundred million Berries, as Shiki said. Later on, due to economic changes, prices would inflate to around two hundred million.
"Tch. Valthior, come over here and open this country bumpkin's eyes!" Roger scoffed, waving him over.
If not for Valthior, Roger would've had no comeback today—Shiki really had gotten more than them.
But who told them they had a walking tycoon on board?
At that moment, however, Valthior was busy reading Shakky's palm.
"Sister Shakky, your love line is really long. Looks like you and Rayleigh are destined to grow old together. But let me be honest—he might be a charming gentleman now, but he could turn into a scruffy old man in the future. You'd better keep an eye on him," Valthior said with a grin.
"Really? Even if he turns into a scruffy old man, I'll still like him," Shakky replied with a smile. Her tone sounded playful, but her gaze was firm.
Hearing that, Rayleigh said smugly, "You brat, even when I'm old, I'll still be a refined and handsome old man—not some scruffy geezer!"
Just as Valthior was about to say something else, Roger's shout came over.
Since he hadn't heard the "wealth-measuring contest" between Shiki and Roger clearly, Valthior looked toward Roger with a puzzled expression. "What is it, Captain?"
"I'm telling you, stop hanging around that bastard Rayleigh. Can't you see no one in this tavern likes him? Come over here and drink with us!" Roger grumbled.
Not just him—Shiki also slammed the table in irritation. "Yeah! What are you doing sitting with that guy? It's annoying as hell!"
And just like that, for no particular reason, Valthior ended up sitting at a table with Shiki, Roger, Gaban, Silver Axe, Babel, and the rest.
As soon as he sat down, Shiki looked at him curiously. "Haven't seen you before. You're a Mythical Zoan user?"
From the wall, Babel added bluntly, "Back at God Valley, I think I saw Rayleigh holding a blade to his neck…"
"Hahahahaha!" Roger laughed, patting Valthior's shoulder. "He's our crew's scholar, name's Valthior. Still a young brat, but you saw his potential earlier. A Mythical Zoan user—give him a few years on our ship and he'll be something else."
"How about coming to my ship?" Shiki laughed. "Sticking with Roger won't be interesting. Come with me—I'll take you to the New World to fight Whitebeard!"
Sure enough, both Shiki's crew and Roger's crew were exactly the same in this regard—first thing they did upon meeting was try to poach people.
Or rather, among pirates, this was completely normal—especially for big shots like them. After all, it was hard to judge random pirates, but anyone on a rival's ship was guaranteed to be worth something.
"I think I'll pass. I'm doing quite well here with the Captain," Valthior replied with a smile, completely unfazed.
"That thirty billion you were bragging about? Honestly, it's nothing. What Valthior's wearing right now is worth more than what you looted," Roger said, steering the conversation back with a smug grin.
"Huh?" Shiki frowned. "What do you mean?"
Silver Axe, on the other hand, seemed to recognize something. He pushed his sunglasses up onto his forehead and stared intently at Valthior's brooch.
"Tears of the Mountain Goddess… crafted by Master Baronia. It was auctioned in the Vinny Kingdom of the East Blue for 3.7 billion Berries. I heard it was later presented to a Celestial Dragon in Mary Geoise. Why is it on you? That's gotta be fake, right?"
"Oh? You know your stuff!" Gaban said in surprise.
Silver Axe took a swig of his drink. "Just a little hobby of mine. I like luxury goods."
"If you like it, you can have it," Valthior said casually, removing the brooch and tossing it in front of Silver Axe.
Silver Axe hurriedly caught it. "Careful, you bastard… Wait—this is real!?"
Just looking wasn't enough to be sure—but the moment he held it, he knew.
This was the real deal.
Holy hell—was the Roger Pirates this rich!?
Did I reject Gaban's offer too quickly!?
A newcomer who had just joined the crew was wearing something like this… Wait—what about that eye-catching bracelet? Don't tell me that's the legendary Chain of Faloya?
That thing was also worth over three billion Berries!
Seeing Silver Axe's stunned expression, even Shiki was dumbfounded.
Wait… Roger, you're serious!?
"Hmph. Now you get it, right? Your thirty billion Berries is nothing. Everything Valthior is wearing adds up to at least thirty billion. In other words, the 'massive fleet fund' you're so proud of is just pocket accessories hanging off him," Roger said, swaying smugly.
"Just who the hell is this new crew member of yours!?" Shiki couldn't help asking.
"Hahahahaha! Nothing special—just a Celestial Dragon from Mary Geoise who admires our Roger Pirates. He was so captivated by my charm that he chased after me, insisting on joining as our scholar. I don't know why, but my charisma is just that overwhelming~" Roger said as if it were nothing.
But his tone was practically reaching the heavens.
Shiki gritted his teeth. "Your charisma? Then why did Shakky choose Rayleigh?"
"I've got a Celestial Dragon on my crew. Do you?" Roger said, acting unfazed despite the hit.
"I—" Shiki started to respond.
But Roger cut him off again. "I've got a Celestial Dragon on my crew. Do you? Huh? Do you!? You don't have shit!"
"Damn it!" Shiki snapped, completely losing it. He raised his cup and shouted, "Then cheers to Rayleigh and Shakky having eight kids in one go!"
"OOOH!!!"
The tavern instantly erupted with noise. Gaban, Valthior, Roger, and the others all raised their cups, shouting along—
"Cheers!!!"